PONTIAN: Umno is ready to take on political parties led by its former party leaders, said party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

       Barisan Nasional faced similar multi-cornered fights from these new parties during the Melaka and Sarawak elections, he added.

       “But we are confident that Barisan will continue to receive support, even from those who have rejected us during the 14th General Election,” he said after visiting the Barisan Pulai Sebatang election machinery here yesterday.

       He said this when commenting on the Election Commission’s (EC) statement on Tiram and Kempas, two seats that are seeing seven-cornered fights, while 35 other seats have four-cornered competitions.

       Ahmad Zahid said he had heard about the Opposition’s plan to unite against Barisan, but the plan had gone awry after nomination day.

       “It clearly shows they are not competing as a team,” he said.